Blues Festival Benefits to Benefit Historic Zion Church Restoration

Historic Zion Church Restoration, Inc. has announced the annual Blues Festival to help benefit the church restoration project will be held on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The group is requesting individuals, businesses and anyone interested, to consider becoming a participant of the 2026 Talbotton Blues Festival.

What began as a vision to celebrate the rich musical heritage of our region has grown into an event that brings together outstanding artists, local businesses, families, history enthusiasts, and visitors from across Georgia and beyond. Each year, the festival continues to strengthen its reputation while shining a spotlight on Talbot County and the Lower Chattahoochee Valley.

Under the artistic direction of Grammy-nominated blues musician Jontavious Willis, the Talbotton Blues Festival celebrates not only exceptional live music, but also the remarkable blues legacy rooted in our own communities. As Jontavious often says, “Everyone thinks of Mississippi as the home of the Blues, but the history in this area rivals Mississippi.” We are proud to help preserve and share that story.

The BluesFest is a fundraiser for Historic Zion Church in Talbotton, built in 1848, that Katherine and David Johnson got local supporters and The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation to restore years ago before the concert was held. This year’s concert will go on, rain or shine.

Talbotton BluesFEST is presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as part of Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Grammy Nominated Jontavious Willis will be present and performing. Zion Church is located at 27 Jackson Street in Talbotton. Tickets for the concert is $20 per person, $45 VIP, with a few $75 VIP spots remaining. Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free. Tickets are available at GetLocalTix.com.

The music and enjoyment will begin at 10 a.m. with Southern Sacred Harp Singers. This portion of the program will conclude at 10:25 a.m.

From 10:40 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the Piney Woods Session Revue will perform. With performances by Gussie Parks, Robert Parks, Eddie Hinton, Callie Hammond, Gary Waters and Alabama Mike.

At 12 p.m. Andrew Alli will teach a harmonica class at Straus Hall until 1 p.m.

From 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. you can hear the Front Porch Collective at Zion Church.

From 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Alia Torres will perform at Zion Church.

From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lamont Pearley will lead a cultural talk at Straus Hall.

From 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Jontavious Willis will be performing at Zion Church.

From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tufara Muhammad lead a cultural talk at Straus Hall.

From 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Albert White will be performing at Zion Church.

From 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. Alabama Annie will perform at Zion Church.

From 5:30 p.m. until 5:45 p.m. Blues Fest Talk will be at Zion Church.

From 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots will be at Zion Church.

From 7:10 until 8:10 p.m. The Stephen Hull Experience will be at Zion Church.

From 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. Vanessa Collier will be at Zion Church.

A dance class is also planned at Straus Hall with the time to be announced at a later date.